WASHINGTON – U.S. pharmacist Johnson & Johnson said Monday it will be able to deliver 20 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine to the United States by the end of March, assuming it receives authorization from federal regulators.
J&J revealed the figure in the written testimony ahead of its scheduled congressional hearing on Tuesday, which will review the nation’s vaccine supply. Last week, White House officials warned that the first single-dose J&J vaccine supplies would be limited.
The company reiterated that it will have the capacity to deliver 100 million US doses by the end of June. This supply will help the US government reach its goal of having enough vaccines to inoculate most American adults this year. Internationally, the company aims to produce 1 billion doses in 2021.
U.S. health regulators are continuing to review the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and expect to decide this week whether to allow its emergency use. The J&J vaccine would be the first in the United States to require a single dose.
Currently available vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna require two doses a few weeks apart.
The directors of both companies and two other vaccine manufacturers will testify at Tuesday’s meeting.